Often overshadowed by whole blood donation, plasma is equally important for patient treatment, and amidst a shortage caused by the pandemic, demand is rising, according to Octapharma Plasma

Houston Methodist is renewing its call for recovered COVID-19 patients to donate convalescent plasma.

Blood banks have a difficult time collecting blood during the winter due to cold weather and seasonal illnesses. Add in a world-wide pandemic and hospitals all over the country are desperate for your blood. With over 800 centers across the country, one of the most convenient options is plasma donation. Sperm donation is less risky and can happen frequently. And don’t forget— even though you won’t get paid for your blood, many donation sites do give out gift cards to local stores.

HOUSTON – A local family is hoping for a miracle to help their father heal from the coronavirus. Harris Rotman, 81, checked into Houston Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center Monday with a high fever. “This could be a matter of life and death for my father and many other people that have reached out to me,” said his daughter Beth Rotman. Adding to their plight, the family said a plasma donation treatment being offered at several local hospitals is not an option for their father. She said the family and her father are ready to take the offer, if allowed.

Lawrence Barris told KPRC 2 reporter Rose-Ann Aragon he started to experience “sweats, shivers ... a lot of weakness,” and shortly after his symptoms started, Sharlene Barris also became ill. After their recovery, the couple said they were contacted by Houston Methodist about an opportunity to donate plasma to help future recovery. Sharlene Barris. "They've capped the number of people that can get the plasma," Sharlene Barris explained. “Keep moving forward on allowing that number [to rise].”The Barris family said they are still working on ways to advocate for patients in need.

HOUSTON – Houston-area hospitals are issuing urgent calls for plasma donations from people who have recovered from coronavirus as doctors use it to treat current patients. Doctors at UT Health are now taking part in convalescent plasma therapy for coronavirus patients. Urgent need for volunteersWith plasma therapy, doctors transfer the antibodies that fight COVID-19 from those who have recovered, to patients who are seriously ill with the virus. Who can donate plasma? Must have fully recovered from COVID-19 with no symptoms for at least 28 days before the donations.

HOUSTON – Houston Methodist Hospital will be the first academic medical center in the country to transfuse donated plasma from a recovered COVID-19 patient to a critically-ill COVID-19 patient. "What we did is transfused COVID-19 convalescent plasma to two critically ill patients," said Dr. Eric Salazar, the principal investigator and a physician-scientist at Houston Methodist. Houston Methodist Hospital said the FDA must approve each patient using the donated convalescent serum. Houston Methodist said physicians began recruiting blood plasma donors on Friday from approximately 250 patients who have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus at Houston Methodist hospitals. "This is like a regular plasma donation, and so we the donors have to qualify to be regular plasma donors.